Rental trends for Canberra low-income earners 'disastrous': Anglicare

Canberra rental homes have undergone a"shocking" long-term decline in affordability for low-income earners, Anglicare said on the release of its annual rental affordability report Monday.

The charity's 2018 report showed there were no properties within the budget of low-income earners, except households earning a minium wage and on family benefits, and those on the aged pension.

"People like me are just going through a hard time": Zane, 17.Credit:Jamila Toderas

Anglicare has called on governments to act in response to the "disastrous" trend, pointing to a fairer tax system, rent assistance for people struggling, providing enough public and social housing, and better protections for renters as possible solutions.

Zane, 17, is completing his year 12 studies through Anglicare's Youth Education Program. But the teenager has been couch surfing now for 16 months, unable to live at home because of family conflict.

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His living situation has taken a toll on his mental health even as he tries to complete his studies.

"Waking up and not being able to go back to one house every single day is just really stressful, especially when you're trying to study, and you can't really do anything cos you're just stressing all the time, and not knowing where you're going to be sleeping that night," Zane said.

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The teenager pays board to the people he stays with but changes houses once or twice a week. He says several of his friends find themselves in the same position. And without stable housing, he says he has found it difficult to look for a job.

Zane soon turns 18, which means he'll be able to sign a lease and find a private rental. But because he's on youth allowance, there's no guarantee he'll be able to find something he can afford.

Anglicare's 2018 affordability snapshot found no Canberra properties that were affordable for a person on youth allowance.

"I have no clue," he says of his chances finding somewhere to live. "I'm just going to have to try and do my best, and just live from week to week."

Zane says for his friends who are renting, their youth allowance barely covers rent, let alone utility bills, phone credit and food. He said they live off "scraps" and two-minute noodles.

The 17-year-old hopes to complete his year 12 studies and then move into a business or management course, with the aim of one day hoping to put his math skills to use in construction or engineering.

"People like me are just going through a hard time," Zane said. "We're not trying to be like this and we're not actually making our life like this, we're actually trying to change our situation, people don't see that they just think that we're lazy people sitting and doing nothing all the time, when we're actually trying to change what we're doing."

Now in its ninth year, Anglicare's snapshot measures housing affordability across Australia by surveying properties in both regional and metro areas.

The report, which surveyed more than 67,000 rental properties across Australia, then tests their affordability for 14 low-income household types.

Anglicare chief executive Jeremy Halcrow said the "alarming" downward trend in the affordability of rental homes required an immediate response.

"The situation is critical and cannot continue without creating further pressure on families already struggling, in some cases literally deciding between whether to pay rent or groceries," he said in a statement.

“More public housing is needed and should be located close to transport, particularly with thereduction in public housing in the city centre where a number of community services are located. Greater protection is also needed for renters who are at risk of unaffordable rent hikes."